Two weeks ago I started teaching a Tranky Doo class for Swingstep in Stuttgart, so I thought I'd share some related resources. Tranky Doo was choreographed by Pepsi Bethel in the 1940s and first appeared at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, to the song Tuxedo Junction. However, a video of the routine was dubbed to Ella Fitzgerald's Dipsy Doodle in the 1987 film The Spirit Moves, so now it's often danced to this song too. In fact the structure of Tranky Doo is suitable for most 32-bar chorus songs, so once you learn it, you can dance it to many tunes ^^

音樂 Music

不管技術如何，節奏感欠佳的話就難為「舞」T^T 以下是我上課時用的音樂，平常可以一面聽一面做一些簡單的節奏練習。/// Regardless of technique, without rhythm, it's hardly "dance" T^T Here's the music I'm using this time in class. Feel free to use them to do your rhythm exercises.

節奏練習題 Rhythm Exercises

這是我自己在常用的一些簡單練習，因為覺得對我有幫助所以上課的時候都會教學生。/// Here's some exercises I do. I find them really helpful so I always teach them to my students:

數拍子：注意每小節從 8 開始，並且可能的話數 8-1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8-2,2,3,4,5,6,7 等等一直數到 8-4，這樣更能加深對於歌曲基本架構的印象 ^^ 這個練習可以在走路的時候或搭捷運的時候做... 但是小心對別人看起來像是在喃喃自語。/// Count: If you can, try to start on 8, and count 8-1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8-2,2,3,4,5,6,7 all the way up to 8-4. The purpose is to strengthen your feel for musical structure. You can do this while walking or taking the bus (but it looks like you are talking to yourself).

打拍子：每個 off-beat 都拍手一次，沒問題之後隨機做一點變化（比方說在 2,4, 打拍，其他不打，或是 6,8 打拍，其他不打）。這個練習可以在走路的時候或搭捷運的時候做... 但是用拍打大腿之類的取代拍手，但是要小心對別人看起來像是在自殘。/// Clap: clap on every off-beat. Once you get that, try to throw in some variations like clapping only on 2,4, or on 6,8. You can do this on the bus or while walking but maybe just tap yourself on the thigh instead. But don't do it too hard, or you might look like you're into self-harm.

步法練習：不管是哪一種 basic（八拍也好，六拍也好，charleston 也好），隨著歌曲一面練習的時候雙手不停地打拍子～ 這個練習比較不建議公共場合做。/// Steps: take your basics (6 or 8 count or charleston, or anything), and do it to music while clapping on the off beat. This is less suitable for practising in public.

影片 Video

Tranky Doo 的版本很多。因為這次課程中多數是完完全全沒跳過舞的菜鳥所以我特別挑了個我覺得比較簡單的版本（其實差別沒很大啦）。這個影片的 Tranky Doo 就是我教的版本，可惜不是從背面攝影所以要看著練比較累。音樂是 Slim & Slam 的 Jump Session. /// This is the version of Tranky Doo I'm teaching. Unfortunately it's not filmed from the back so it's a bit more tiring to use it for practice. The music is Slim & Slam - Jump Session.

我跟朋友們看影片學 Tranky Doo 的時候是用這個影片，但是這隻編舞到了尾端跟上方的稍有不同（差別不大）。因為是從背面所以看著練習很方便，但是速度比較快。音樂是 Ella Fitzgerald 的 Dipsy Doodle。/// When I learned Tranky Doo with my friends, this is the video we used. This choreography is a little different toward the end but the difference is small. It's filmed from the back so easier for practice. But it's also faster. Music is Ella Fitzgerald's Dipsy Doodle.

編舞 Choreography

我學編舞的時候通常會隨手記錄一下，免得日久忘了。另外，寫過看過之後記憶更加深。這是 Tranky Doo 配兩個版本的 Tuxedo Junction，但是要先聲明一下我不是樂手，所以上面跟樂理相關的關鍵字不正確，但是對於我自己跳舞的需求來說應該滿清楚的 ^^ /// Normally when I learn a routine I will make notes. Otherwise I tend to forget quite easily. Writing it down and reading it once through really deepens my recall. Here's Tranky Doo to two versions of Tuxedo Junction. But please remember that I'm not a musician so the terminology in there is incorrect - it's just my personal notes so I write what works for me :)

Tranky Doo 不是最困難的編舞，但是也不是最簡單的 :) 不過只要多多練習一定可以學得起來～ 加油囉！/// Finally, while Tranky Doo isn't most difficult routine, it certainly isn't the easiest either. So congrats to everyone in the class for doing such a good job :) See you next week!

我的生活是每週每週算的，不知為什麼時間總是過得這麼快。這週 Tübingen 的天氣出奇的好，但是到了週末卻全部成了陰天，不是故意折磨上班族嗎？回顧一下這週的一些最愛, in case you missed it. /// My life is counted by the week and I don't know why time always passes so fast. The weather in Tübingen has been exceptional this week, until it clouded over on the weekend. Here's some of this week's favourites, in case you missed it.

五零年代的貓眼眼鏡，配著這週的有感而發：偶爾難免遇到對我的外觀有意見的人，上衣胸線有沒有太低，皮膚是不是太黑，會不會太胖之類。這時候只能解釋：我的身體是我的，只以我的審美觀主導。你沒有權利干涉，更沒有權利把你俗淺的意見用「好意」的包裝來約束我。請省省口水吧，別把我跟會聽信你放屁的傻女孩搞混了。/// Fifties cat-eye glasses with this week's outburst: Occasionally I run into people who have an opinion about my appearance - is my top too low cut, am I too tanned, should I lose weight? At times like this I can only say that my body is mine and as such is guided by my aesthetics alone. No one else has the right to interfere - much less the right to use the passive aggressive "well-meaning advice" to try and censure me. Please keep your opinions to yourself, because you're mistaking me for someone who gives a shit.

六零年代：哪天我也要穿這樣（裡面不穿）。/// Sixties style: Must dress like this some time (with nothing on underneath).

最後，來張完美的棉花糖造型。/// Finally, some perfect cotton candy hair.

祝你有個美好、順利、產出力破錶的一週。Hope you have a wonderful, successful, and productive week.

最近收到了這條美麗的七零年代百折領巾，用來綁頭髮很好看，順便跟大家分享一下這個簡單的復古造型。這種捲頭髮的技巧叫做 "pin-curl" - 有很多不同的做法。我覺得這種是最簡單的。I found this 70s pleated scarf recently and it makes a great hairband. Here's the simple retro-style hairstyle I often do :) This technique is called "pin-curl" and there's many ways to do it. I think this is very simple.

在鐵氟龍普及之前，很多烘培模具是銅或是陶瓷做的。陶瓷模具的外觀很漂亮，不用藏在櫃子～ 可以直接掛在廚房的牆上做裝飾，而且只要抓到訣竅，脫模一點也不困難。今天用這個 Kiss & Tell Vintage 的 Pinkoi 設計館中出售的模具來示範一下 :) Before Teflon became standard, baking forms were often ceramic or copper. Ceramic forms are really pretty. Instead of hiding them in the cupboard, they are made to be hung on walls as decoration. With the right technique, they are also easy to use :) I'll just demo on this cake form which is for sale at the Kiss & Tell Vintage Pinkoi shop.

我烘培的時候都是用天然的奶油，糖之類的，從來不用替代品。一部份是因為不怕胖（罪過），一部份是因為我覺得天然材料比較好吃。以我的經驗，對於脫模來說，最重要的就是要抹很多的奶油！所有的小小細縫都要用手指抹上一層，千萬不能漏掉一角，不然蛋糕出來的時候就會粘住。奶油如果要好操作的話最好是先從冰箱拿出來退冰到軟，這樣子就很容易塗抹了 ^^ 上過奶油之後模具就像這樣子。When I bake I use real butter and sugar and such. I don't ever use substitutes because I have no serious health concerns (Julian and I are both quite fit and only eat cakes once in a long while) and because I think natural ingredients taste better. From what I can tell, the key to getting the cake to pop out easily is to use a lot of butter! All the little crevices should be covered. Any corners missed will be a corner that sticks. Best to leave the butter out so it's soft and easy to work. After rubbing in butter, the form looks a bit like this:

上完奶油之後需要上麵粉，不用很多，薄薄的一層就夠了！我的方式是用手指四處撒了麵粉之後拿起模具然後以不同的角度傾斜輕拍，麵粉很快就或擴散均勻了。最後把模具整個倒過來輕拍幾下，把多餘的麵粉都拍掉。Once buttered, I spread on a thin layer of flour (just a thin layer is enough). I usually sprinkle with my fingers and then tap the form at various angles to distribute more evenly. At the end I flip it around and tap a few times to get the excess flour off.

模具上過麵粉之後就直接送進冰箱，在準備蛋糕的時候讓它徹底地冷卻，這樣子脫模效果才會最佳～ Once it's been floured, I pop the form into the fridge to let it chill thoroughly.

放冰箱之後我就開始做麵糊。冷卻約半個小時之後放進麵糊就可以直接進烤箱了。I start making up the batter once it's in the fridge. After about half an hour, it's ready for the batter and can go directly into the oven.

最後，烤出來之後一定要給蛋糕充足的時間冷卻，不然的話不只會黏而且還會破碎（經驗之談 T^T）Finally, give the cake time to cool off before you try to take it out! Otherwise it'll stick and crumble (been there, done that).

冷卻約 15-30 分鐘之後就可以輕易的把蛋糕取出了 ^^ 我通常喜歡稍微扎實一點的蛋糕，所以這個是超級簡單的磅蛋糕（pound cake）。After about 15-30 minutes the cake can be removed quite easily. I tend to prefer firm cakes, so this one is a simple pound cake. 烤出來之後如果要翻面過來用奶油裝飾也可以，但是這樣需要把上面突出的部分先切掉（如果想要考出完全整的蛋糕可以參考這裡）。I served mine just as is, but of course they can be flipped over and decorated prettily with icing (just need to lop off the mound on the top as pound cake tends to rise into a small hill. For tips on baking flat cake layers check this out).

老模具的好處是可以掛在牆上裝飾 ^^ The best thing about vintage cake forms is hanging them on the wall for decoration.

（圖片來自 / photo from: C. Diane Zweig)

最後分享一下我自己常用的兩個蛋糕食譜，都很適合用在這種模具中。 1. 是 Martha Stewart 的 Vanilla Pound Cake (就是上方照片中的蛋糕）, 2. 是 Smitten Kitchen 的 Everyday Chocolate Cake, 兩個都是超級簡單又美味的食譜。 要注意的是：如果要烤巧克力蛋糕，脫模用的麵粉最好以巧克力粉代替，不然的話蛋糕外觀會灰撲撲的，比較不好看～ Finally, two cake reciples I often use. They both work well in ceramic cake forms: 1.Martha Stewart's Vanilla Pound Cake (the recipe used for the photos above). 2. Smitten Kitchen's Everyday Chocolate Cake. Both are super simple (if I can do it, you can). The only thing is, if you're making the chocolate cake, it's best to coat the form with chocolate power rather than flour to prevent the outside of the cake from appearing dusty.

有什麼問題或是建議都歡迎留言喔 ^^Feel free to leave a comment if you have questions or advice ~

Because of spending the first few days of the week in Munich after Rock that Swing, the first week of March went by in a blur... Here's some of my favourites from the week, in case you missed it.

好愛 Retronaut 上 1910 年代的老果凍廣告，也有超級秀色可餐的食譜喔。這張如果印出來裝飾廚房該有多好。Love the Retronaut's turn of the century Jello advertisements and recipe book. This image would make a great poster for the kitchen.

在 Rock that Swing 看到了好多出色的復古服飾，其中我最想要的就是這種寬版的高腰褲。圖中這件在腳踝的部分還有一艘小帆船。很多古著都有這種逗趣的細節。 Saw lots of outstanding vintage fashion at Rock that Swing and what I covet most is high waisted trousers like these. I love the little sail boat too, near the end of the trouser leg. Vintage often has such wonderful attention to detail.

說到 Rock that Swing, 我跟 Olivier 上私人 balboa 課程的時候他建議我買雙高跟鞋跳舞 ^^ 滿想要一雙四零年代時很流行的厚底高跟鞋... 比方左上紅色那雙... 不知何時才會有預算。Speaking of Rock that Swing. I had a private balboa class with Olivier and one of the advice was to buy some high heels to dance in! Would love some 40s wedges like the red pair in top left... Not sure when I'll have the budget though.

不知這個圖中是什麼但是花樣真是難以抗拒。做洋裝也好，做臥室的壁紙也好。要是做了洋裝也做了壁紙然後穿著洋裝在牆壁前照相呢？Not sure what this image is from but I love the pattern. Would be nice as a dress or as bedroom wallpaper. What about doing both and getting a photo taken in front of the wall wearing the dress that's the same pattern as the wallpaper?

Registration started months ahead of the camp itself. As a single follow I registered way ahead of time to avoid the dreaded waiting list (always a bother if flight bookings are required). The registration for Rock that Swing was fairly complicated and classes/parties were sold separately (with many choices of seats for the parties). However, the entire process was smooth and my queries received swift replies. It's worth mentioning that as with many other camps, there's a group discount that might be of interest.

There were many types of classes on offer: boogie woogie, balboa, lindy hop, solo jazz, and tasters including shag and blues and what have yous. Classes ran from 11 to 5 pm which may not sound like a lot but was enough to almost kill me. As with other camps, you join the level which you think you are fit for, except for the topmost level which requires an advance audition. What's special about Rock that Swing though is that you don't NEED to stay in the track/level you have preselected. Other than audition/partner-required classes, students can move freely between tracks and levels. This is great for flexibility but takes away a little from bonding with your fellow classmates. A few handsome young men from one of my first classes were nowhere to be found on my second day...

Parties at Rock that Swing were quite impressive. The main events were held on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Deutsches Theater, a gigantic venue with a capacity of 1,600 (I don't think we filled it - people dancing take up more room than people sitting). Because of the size of the event, tickets came with assigned seating which got more expensive as one nears the dance floor. I don't think it matters where you choose to sit if the seat is only for stacking coats and bags. I sat on the top most floor in the nosebleed section but only went to my seat at the beginning and end of the event.

The best part by far about Rock that Swing was the variety: 2 main ballrooms with constant live music (I think 11 bands in total for the whole camp), a medium sized dance floor with 3-4 DJs, the foyer for blues, and also another small room for just boogie woogie which I failed to even locate. If anything, I would consider just coming for the socials because they are such wonderful productions. The level of social dancing was also quite high (I think), which is always a plus. Also, the organizers specifically request that dancers dress up for these balls and it really was a parade of drop-dead gorgeous vintage fashion on both guys and girls...

主要 ballroom 的場景（實際跳舞的空間是這張照片中的三倍）Main ballroom (actual dancing space is about three times larger than photo)

次要 ballroom（實際跳舞空間是照片中的兩倍左右）Second ballroom (actual dancing space about twice as large as in photo)

Of course evening parties are where instructors strut their stuff. At Rock that Swing there were over 50 international swing instructors so the performances were something to behold. But if watching performances is not your thing, music and dancing continues in all but the main ballroom so you can easily just carry on dancing.

Sunday Night Teachers' Jam

4. 其他零星 / Others

For such a large festival, Rock that Swing was run like a well oiled machine. I was late to check-in on my first day at the camp and worried that the long line would make me late for class. But there were many volunteers working alongside each other and everything was extremely efficient and friendly. Also the extensive vintage market with clothing, shoes, accessories and such provided enough of a distraction to make me late for much better reasons. I wish I had gotten more photos but I was too shy to keep taking photos of people's merchandise!

I enjoyed my time at Rock that Swing and would definitely attend again, circumstances permitting. But the scale of the event as well as the fact that Munich is not the cheapest city in the world means that the cost is also quite substantial. Also, everyone prefers different environments. Rock that Swing is a little less personal than small weekend events where I had more of a chance to get to know a few like-minded dancers more in-depth. At Rock that Swing I found it much harder to FIND anyone specific - so that kind of bonding didn't happen. However, I also danced with a much larger number of different people - so it just depends on what one is looking for in an event!